MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE. ZOOLOGY. 341 



" Quite common about marshes." — Boardman. 



Specimens of this bird from Europe, in the Museum of Comparative 

 Zoology, are not appreciably different from others from various parts of 

 the United States. Neither do the habits of the European bird appear to 

 differ from those of the American, as some have supposed. Dr. Richard- 

 son described its principal haunts in the Fur Countries as being " dense 

 thickets of young pine-trees or dark entangled willow clumps, where it 

 sits on a low branch, watching assiduously for mice." But it is now well 

 known to more commonly frequent open fields and savannas, situations 

 similar to those the European frequents. 



An interesting state of plumage of this owl is exhibited by two pairs 

 taken on Muskeget Island, Massachusetts, about July 1, 1870, by Messrs. 

 C. J. Maynard and William Brewster, in which the color is so light as to 

 almost suggest their being albinos. They are many shades lighter than 

 the specimens of this species are from the interior, and show clearly, when 

 taken in connection with the light race of Arvicola riparius (Arvicola 

 Breweri Baird), also occurring on this small sandy island, the effect of the 

 combined influence of an absence of shade and the increased light caused 

 by reflection from the light-colored sand. The influence of similar 

 circumstances is seen on a large scale in the birds and mammals of the 

 Colorado desert and the arid peninsula of Lower California, and in less 

 degree on the open arid plains of the middle region of the continent. 



The long-eared owl, Otus vulgaris Fleming,* may be expected, 

 from its known distribution, to also occur in Florida. 



97 * Strix flammea Limit. Barn Owl. 



Strix flummea Linne, Syst. Nat., I, 133, 1767. — "Wilson*, Nuttall, Audu- 

 bon (Orn. Biog.), Bonaparte (Synop.). 



Strix pratincola Bonap., Geog. and Comp. List, 7, 1838. — Cassin, Brewer, 

 and recent American authors. 



Strix americana Audubon, Synop., 25, 1839. 



Strix perlata Bonap., Consp. Gen. Av., I, 55, 1850. 



Strix /areata Temm., PI. Col., I, 432. 



A specimen was taken by Mr. Thaxter at St. Augustine. Mr. 



* Strix otus Linne, Faun. Suec, 24, 1761. 



Strix otus americana ct mexicana Gmelin, Syst. Nat., I, 288, 1788 



Strix otus Wilson, Bonap. (Synop.), Nuttaix, Audubon (Orn. Biog.). 



Olus vulgaris Fleming, Brl ish Animals, 60, 1828. — Audubon, Synop., 28, 1839. 



G. R. Gray, Gen Birds, T, 40; Cat- Brit. Birds, 26, 1863. 



Otus Wilsonianui Lesson, Traite d'Orn., I, 110, 1831. — Cassin, Brewer, and re- 

 cent American authors. 



Otus americanus Bonap., Geog and Cooip. List, 7, 1835. 



